Kingfishers 2021-22
Miss Whitwood, Mrs Chambers and Mrs Brennan-McCord
Thursday 21st July
In our last few days of Year 4, we learnt what translation is and described the movement of shapes on grids.
We completed our book sleeves in DT. We worked hard on these and the finished products looked great!
In our music lessons this week, we recapped our learning from this year; we sang our focus songs, recapped vocabulary and created different rhythms. We then clapped these rhythms and played them on the glockenspiel.
We opened our time capsules today which we made during our Year 4 transition day. We loved seeing how much we've grown and changed and we also looked back to see if we achieved the targets we set at the beginning of the year.
Today, we completed our mini Race for Life for Cancer Research. We raised a phenomenal £317 for this charity. We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who sponsored us!
Thank you Kingfishers for all of your hard work this year! You should all be proud of what you have accomplished and I wish you the best of luck in Ravens!
Have a wonderful summer everyone!
Friday 15th July
In maths this week, we completed our shape unit by drawing shapes using a line of symmetry and we identified and described 3D shapes. We then used coordinates to describe the position of items on a grid and we also plotted coordinates.
In literacy, we planned and wrote our shared write. We then planned, wrote and edited our hot write, which was an explanation text on sound and how we hear. At the end of the week, we wrote the final version of our explanation text.
In DT, we began to make our book sleeve using the skills we learnt this half term to help us. We used our designs to help us as well and we started to sew buttons and other materials onto our book sleeve.
We learnt about what happened in 1066 in history this week. We learnt what happened after Edward the Confessor died and learnt who was involved in the Stamford Bridge battle as well as the Battle of Hastings.
In PSHE, we discussed what the difference is between a secret and a surprise and then we discussed how secrets can make us feel unsafe.
Gabriel is our star of the week this week. He has shown more focus in lessons and has become quicker at showing that he is ready to learn. Well done Gabriel!
Have a good weekend!
Friday 8th July
We have had a very busy week this week!
In maths, we learnt what the properties are of different 2D shapes. We also developed our understanding of quadrilaterals and triangles and at the end of the week, we began to learn what lines of symmetry are.
In literacy, we practised some important skills that are needed to write an explanation text. We practised writing in a formal tone and we also learnt how to write an introduction in an explanation text.
In history, we learnt about Athelstan, the first king of England. We learnt what he did when he was king and we discussed what impact he had in history.
We really enjoyed sports day on Tuesday! There were many exciting activities for us to complete and we put 100% effort into each one. Thank you to all the parents who came and showed their support.
On Wednesday, we went to Northampton museum to learn more about the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings. In our workshop, we learnt many things about the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings and we got to hold artefacts from their period of history. We then walked around the museum to look at the exhibitions. We really enjoyed looking at the history of shoes in Northampton and we were very excited about the Star Wars exhibition.
Well done to Eleanor who is star of the week this week. Eleanor represented the school very well when we were at the museum.
Have a good weekend!
Friday 1st July
In maths this week, we learnt how to read and interpret data in pictograms and bar charts. We then developed our learning further by learning how to read line graphs. We began our unit on shape by recapping what the different types of angles are and we ordered and compared them.
In literacy, we began our unit on explanation texts. We identified what they are and what their purpose is. We also learnt more about the vocabulary that is used in our focus text and at the end of the week, we identified the key features of an explanation text.
In French, we used our work from last lesson to create a rap. We performed them to the rest of the class in our Eurovision Song Contest.
In our history lesson, we learnt about Alfred the Great and why he is a well-known Anglo-Saxon king. We put events that occurred in his lifetime in order and then we wrote about his life.
In RE, we discussed how people can believe in both science and God. We explained how a scientist who believes in God might explain how the world was created.
Well done to Ella who is star of the week this week. She has been a team player and a thoughtful member of the class.
Have a good weekend!
Friday 24th June
We have worked really hard this week on not only our assessments but in our lessons as well!
In literacy, we wrote the final version of our diary entry and ensured we included lots of text features. We then wrote an explanation text as our cold write. At the end of the week, we began to draft letters to our pen pals.
In maths this week, we have completed a lot of work on time; we read analogue clocks in 5 minute and 1 minute intervals and we drew some of these times as well. We then converted between hours, minutes and seconds and we also converted between days, weeks, months and years. At the end of the week, we learnt how to write times in the 12 hour and 24 hour digital clock.
We learnt important Viking dates in our history lesson this week and then used these dates to infer information. We learnt about the Great Heathen Army and what happened after they invaded.
We enjoyed our DT lesson this week! We learnt how to stitch and had a go at practising this skill.
In French, we designed a character as if they were going to perform at the Eurovision song contest. We then wrote important information about them in French.
Well done to Rosie who is star of the week this week! She has shown a very mature and positive attitude during assessment week.
Have a good weekend!
Friday 17th June
In literacy this week, we planned and wrote our independent diary entry. We wrote it as if we were Gunnar, the main character in our class book "Viking Boy." At the end of the week, we made improvements to our diary entry.
We have worked hard on money this week. We have compared and ordered money, added and subtracted it and calculated change from pounds. We rounded money and used this to estimate answers to problems and we converted between pounds and pence.
In history, we learnt what the Vikings believed in. We learnt that they believed in many Gods and Goddesses and we learnt why they were so important to the Vikings. Our task was to ask questions about the Viking's beliefs.
We considered what God is to Christians this week in RE. We discussed why Christians think God is real.
In French, we learnt how to say different genres of music. We then completed a survey by asking individuals what their favourite type of music is and we recorded the data.
We really enjoyed our PE lessons this week; we continued to develop our tennis skills and we played a game of rounders in our other PE lesson.
Our star of the week this week is Finley. He has faced the challenge this week of only being able to use 1 arm and he has done this in a very mature way! Well done Finley.
Have a good weekend!
Friday 10th June
We have completed a lot of learning this week!
In maths, we finished our unit on decimals by comparing them using the more than and less than signs. We also ordered them and rounded them to the nearest whole number. We then learnt what the fraction equivalents are to some decimals, for example, 0.5 is the same as 1/2.
In literacy, we recapped how to use fronted adverbials for different purposes. We then planned our shared write and at the end of the week, we used this to write a diary entry about the Jubilee day.
In science, we learnt that sound is created by vibrations and we completed an experiment which tested this theory.
In French, we learnt how to say different instruments. We then used this to ask each other whether we play an instrument and we responded using our new learning.
We learnt that the Vikings were from Scandinavia in our first history lesson. We learnt that they were farmers as well as excellent ship builders and sailors. We created a poster to share what we learnt about the Vikings.
In PSHE, we discussed some of the changes people go through in their lives. We then discussed how someone might feel when these changes happen and how they could cope with them.
Well done to Jake who is our star of the week this week. It is always brilliant to see Jake eager to learn and to take pride in his work. Well done Jake!
Have a good weekend.
Friday 27th May
In maths this week, we continued to develop our learning on decimals. We used number lines to show our understanding of tenths and then we divided 1 and 2-digit numbers by 10 and 100. We learnt about hundredths using place value grids.
In literacy, we began to practise some of the skills needed to write a diary entry. We recapped how to punctuate direct speech correctly and we also recapped how to use subordinate clauses to provide extra information.
In RE, we ended our unit on pilgrimages by writing a diary entry. We imagined we were going on a pilgrimage and considered what we would do there and how we felt about it.
In our last Anglo-Saxon lesson, we learnt about Sutton Hoo and what was found there. We learnt that archaeologists believe a king was buried there and we learnt why he was buried with many different items.
We enjoyed celebrating the Queen's platinum jubilee today with lots of exciting activities; we made crowns for our jubilee lunch, we found out information about the queen and then used this to create a fact file and we decorated our own t-shirt using the colours red, white and blue.
Well done to Lennox who is star of the week this week. Lennox can always be relied upon to do the right thing and he has completed excellent maths work this week. Well done Lennox.
Have a lovely half term!
Friday 20th May
In maths this week, we completed our fractions unit by identifying fractions of amounts and we also identified quantities. We then began our unit on decimals by recognising tenths and hundredths and we also wrote tenths as decimals.
In literacy, we began our unit on diary entries. We discussed what the purpose of them are and why people write them. We then discussed what our focus text is about, learnt what tricky vocabulary words mean and identified the key features of a diary.
In our online safety lessons this week, we discussed what fake news is and how we can spot it when we are online. We also discussed what the benefits and risks are to using technologies like Siri and Ask Alexa.
In our computing lesson, we recalled what the different parts of a computer are and then used this to create an information leaflet.
In history, we learnt that the Anglo-Saxons were originally pagan and that they became Christian over time. We learnt about three important saints and what their role was in converting Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.
In RE, we discussed how life can be seen as a pilgrimage. We considered the high points and the low points in a person’s life, what milestones people have and what paths they take. We used this to create a map of our journey.
Well done to Grace who is star of the week this week. Grace has made a phenomenal amount of progress in her maths work and she has become a lot more confident when working independently. Well done Grace!
Have a good weekend!
Friday 13th May
We continued our fractions unit this week by learning how to convert improper fractions to mixed numbers. We also counted backwards and forwards in fractions and added and subtracted fractions with the same denominator.
In literacy, we wrote our hot writes. Our character descriptions were fantastic and they included a lot of figurative language, expanded noun phrases and interesting adjectives. We edited our writing and then wrote the final version. We then began our unit on diary entries by completing our cold write task.
In history, we learnt that the Anglo-Saxon society was a hierarchy. We learnt what the hierarchy was and what the role of each group was. Using this knowledge, we asked historical questions to find out more.
We had 2 PSHE lessons this week. In the first lesson, we discussed who is part of the school community and what their role is. In the second lesson, we discussed different situations that might require first aid. We considered different injuries and the treatments that may be needed.
We also had 2 French lessons this week. In the first lesson, we recapped how to say numbers in French and then applied this knowledge to money. We looked at the cost of different foods in a supermarket. In the second lesson, we practised saying the names of different shops and the foods that are sold there.
In music, we recalled what we know about our unit song "Blackbird." We learnt how to play part of the rhythm and then we improvised part of it. We also evaluated our improvisations, identifying what was good about them and what could be improved.
Well done to Isla C who is star of the week this week. Isla has been contributing more ideas in lessons, has put 110% into every lesson and has worked hard to improve her handwriting. Well done Isla!
Have a good weekend.
Friday 6th May
In literacy this week, we wrote a character description as a class. We wrote it about Woden (an Anglo-Saxon God) and we included excellent description! Towards the end of the week, we planned another character description which we will use to write our hot write.
We continued to develop our understanding of fractions this week by learning what equivalent fractions are. We identified these using images and then we identified missing numbers for equivalent fractions. We then began to look at fractions which are greater than 1 whole.
In computing this week, we learnt what the different parts of a computer are, for example, we learnt what a hard drive is and what it does. We then completed a quiz showing our understanding.
In history, we learnt more about who the Anglo-Saxons were and why they invaded England. We learnt that many were farmers who struggled to grow crops because there was regular flooding.
In music, we continued to learn the song Blackbird written by the Beatles and we used glockenspiels and xylophones to play part of the rhythm.
We had 2 PSHE lessons this week. In the first lesson, we learnt different ways we can stay healthy and why this is important and in the second lesson, we learnt about the 7 Rs, which are different ways we can look after the environment, for example, recycle, reuse and repair.
Well done to Henry who is star of the week this week. Henry has shown an amazing and focused attitude in lessons and he has shown great perseverance. Well done Henry!
Have a good weekend!
Friday 29th April
We finished our area unit in maths this week by learning how to use the more than and less than signs to compare the areas of different shapes. We then began our fraction unit; we explained what unit and non-unit fractions are, identified fractions and drew fractions in shapes. At the end of the week, we identified tenths and we also counted up and down in tenths.
In literacy, we practised some of the skills needed to write a character description. We recapped what expanded noun phrases are and used these with alliteration to describe a character and then we recapped other types of figurative language including similes, personification and metaphors. At the end of the week, we planned our shared write using the skills we practised.
In computing, we effectively searched for answers to questions using search engines. We then discussed why it is important to check the information that we read online and we understood how we can do this.
In history, we continued learning about what happened in England after the Romans left and we learnt what led to the Anglo-Saxons invading. We created a timeline with important dates and then we used this to explain what happened in important years.
In PSHE, we considered the choices we make as children. We then considered and discussed the decisions that others make for us and why they do this.
We continued to develop our understanding of pilgrimages in RE by looking at different places of Christian worship and we suggested why Christians might visit these places.
Well done to Archie who is star of the week this week. Archie is an excellent role model to his peers and he has produced fantastic work in our area unit. Well done Archie!
Have a good weekend!
Friday 22nd April
In maths this week, we learnt about area. We learnt what area is, calculated the area of shapes by counting squares and we also drew shapes with specific areas.
We began our character description unit in literacy by discussing what they are, where they are found and what the purpose of them are. We used dictionaries to identify what words mean in our focus text and we identified the features used in a character description.
In PSHE, we discussed what it means to be unique. We designed our own theme park by considering what rides different people enjoy.
In history, we learnt what happened in Britain when the Romans left. We learnt that the Scots invaded what was then called Pictland and we also learnt what the Celts did after the Romans left.
In RE, we learnt what a pilgrimage is and we discussed why people go on them. We also considered whether there is a difference between being a tourist and a pilgrim.
Well done to Noah who is star of the week this week. Noah has shown great politeness and consideration towards others and he has challenged himself in his learning. Well done Noah!
Have a good weekend!
Friday 1st April
We have had a very busy week this week!
In literacy, we planned and wrote a non-chronological report about Greater London, using what we had learnt in geography to help us. We then edited it and wrote the final version.
In maths, we continued our division unit by partitioning 3-digit numbers in different ways and then divided. We also recapped how to work systematically when answering correspondence problems.
In computing, we learnt what animation is and understood how films are created through drawing and technology. We then learnt how to create our own animations.
In geography, we learnt how Greater London has changed over time. We used maps to look at how the land was used 100 years ago and compared it to today.
In DT, we used our plans to make our own pneumatic toys. Once we made it, we evaluated it, identifying what went well and what could be improved next time.
On Thursday, we went the the church for our Easter service. Well done to everyone who participated in the service.
Well done to Hollie who is star of the week this week. Hollie did amazing in her end of unit geography assessment and she supported and encouraged her peers in PE. Well done Hollie.
Have a lovely Easter break everyone!
Friday 25th March
In literacy this week, we practised some of the skills needed to write a non-chronological report. We recapped what subordinate clauses are and used them in our sentences. We also learnt what formal language is and practised writing cohesively.
In maths, we continued to practise using the written method for multiplication. We then began learning how to divide 2-digit numbers by 1-digit numbers by partitioning. We recapped how to partition in different ways and used this to help us divide.
In Geography, we learnt how the land in Greater London is used. For example, we learnt that in the City of London, there are more offices than houses and we also learnt that the further away from the city you are, the more residential areas there are.
In DT, we learnt what pneumatics are. We understood how they work and then we designed our own toy which will include pneumatics.
Well done to Adele who is star of the week this week. She has made amazing progress in her reading this term because of her excellent attitude and hard work! Well done Adele!
Have a good weekend!
Friday 18th March
We have learnt lots this week and have completed assessments as well.
In maths, we continued to develop our understanding of multiplication by using the expanded written method and the short method. We then applied this learning to problems.
In literacy, we wrote the final version of our newspaper article. We then began our non-chronological report unit by learning what they are, what the purpose of them are and what their key features are.
In geography, we learnt what human and physical features are and then identified some of these in London. We then described these different features.
In French, we learnt different verbs to say what people do and we practised saying these words. We then applied our learning by reading sentences in French.
We had two PSHE lessons this week. In the first lesson, we identified what children's rights are and explained why these are important. In our second lesson, we learnt what the terms income and expenditure mean and identified items and services people spend money on at home.
Toby is our star of the week this week. He has made sensible and mature decisions and he has showed great resilience in lessons. Well done Toby!
Have a good weekend!
Friday 11th March
In maths this week, we continued to practise different methods to multiply. We learnt how to use the expanded written method for multiplication and then we used this method to help us solve multiplication problems.
In literacy, we planned our shared write and then wrote our newspaper article about Greens Norton Primary School pupils no longer having to wear school uniform. Towards the end of the week, we planned our newspaper article hot write and then wrote our first draft.
In geography, we learnt that London is a region. We identified where the different regions are and then used them to describe the position of Greater London.
In RE, we read Isiah's prophesy about the Messiah and identified clues that he was Jesus.
In PSHE, we learnt that newspaper articles can influence people’s opinions. We read two different articles with different opinions about the same topic and compared them. We identified what these different opinions were.
Well done to Miller who is star of the week this week. He has been extremely helpful around the classroom, has produced excellent pieces of work and has shared his great ideas in our shared write. Well done Miller!
Have a good weekend.
Friday 4th March
In maths this week, we continued to develop our understanding of efficient multiplication by practising different strategies. We then began to look at different written methods to help us multiply and these included number lines and the partitioning method.
In literacy, we practised some of the skills needed to write a newspaper article. We practised using inverted commas to mark direct speech, wrote cohesively and wrote an introduction paragraph which answered different questions.
In geography, we learnt that Greater London has 2 cities and 32 boroughs and then we described and compared the position of the City of London to other cities in the UK.
In PSHE, we discussed what rules are and why we have them. We also discussed how rules can sometimes change depending on the situation.
We really enjoyed world book day and dressing up as our favourite book character. We completed lots of different activities about books, for example, we shared our favourite books with others, completed a book quiz and performed some poetry.
Well done to Dougie who is star of the week this week. Dougie has been more focused in class and he has worked really hard in lessons, especially maths.
Have a good weekend.
Friday 25th February
In maths this week, we learnt what factors and factor pairs are using our times table knowledge and we identified these in different numbers. We also learnt different efficient methods for multiplication and then applied this learning to other calculations.
In literacy, we began our newspaper article unit by learning what they are and what their purpose is. We then learnt the definitions of some of the words in our focus text and identified the key features of this type of text.
In geography, we learnt what a county is and learnt that Greater London is a county and region. We used an atlas to identify where Greater London is and then identified counties around it. We then described these counties' locations.
In PSHE, we learnt what the word responsibility means. We then looked at different professions and discussed what their responsibilities are, for example, we identified the responsibilities of a fire fighter.
We discussed online bullying in our online safety lesson. We looked at different examples of online bullying and discussed how we might tell if someone is upset, hurt or angry online.
Well done to Riley who is star of the week this week. Riley has shown he is ready to learn this week by being more focused in lessons. He has also produced excellent pieces of work. Well done Riley!
Have a good weekend!
Friday 11th February
We have had a very busy week!
In maths, we developed our understanding of the 11 and 12 times tables and then applied this learning to problems. We also understood what multiplying 3 numbers means and practised this skill.
In science, we completed an experiment involving evaporation. We placed wet cloth in different places in the classroom and we learnt that water evaporates at different speeds depending on where the cloth is in the classroom.
In literacy this week, we learnt what the key features of a recount are and then we practised writing in the first person. We then wrote a recount of our trip to Barnwell Country Park.
We really enjoyed our trip to Barnwell Country Park. We completed many exciting activities, including feeding birds, testing the PH level of the river water and identifying different parts of a river. We also sketched the river and learnt how to use maps and compasses.
At the end of the week, we discussed what mental health is and we shared activities that we do to look after our mental health. We also discussed why it's important to look after our mental health. We wrote positive messages to each other and we learnt that making mistakes is ok. We identified mistakes that we have made and shared what we learnt from these mistakes.
Have a good half term.
Friday 4th February
We practised a lot of our times tables this week in maths. We recalled facts for the 3, 6, 9 and 7 times tables and then we used these facts to answer reasoning and problem solving questions.
In literacy, we used our plans from last week to write our river poem. We worked really hard on these and because of this, we wrote excellent poems! We included lots of key features and we wrote our poems as if we were the river. At the end of the week, we learnt what a recount is.
In geography, we learnt that lots of major cities in Europe are built around rivers and we learnt what the reasons for this are. In our second lesson, we learnt what the consequences are when a river floods.
In science, we learnt what the water cycle is and what happens to water after it rains. We completed an experiment to show the different stages of the water cycle using soil, seeds, water and cling film and we observed what happened throughout the week.
In computing, we planned and wrote a campaign. We used technology to create our campaign and then we evaluated it.
Some of us went to an athletics event on Thursday. We gave every activity 110% and the sportsmanship we showed was amazing. We represented our school really well!
Well done to Isla who is star of the week this week. Isla did really well in the athletics event and she has worked hard to learn her times tables.
Have a good weekend.
Friday 28th January
In literacy this week, we used our plans to write a poem about a thunderstorm. We put lots of grammatical features in, including personification and alliteration. Towards the end of the week, we planned our hot write, which will be a poem about rivers.
In maths, we continued to develop our understanding of multiplying and dividing numbers by 10 and 100. We understood what it means when we multiply and divide by these numbers. At the end of the week, we learnt what happens when you multiply a number by 1 and 0.
In music this week, we began to create our own verses for our focus song Stop! We created excellent lyrics and practised them with the music.
In art, we painted our river scene which we sketched last week. We focused on using different tones to paint different parts of the landscape.
In science, we conducted an experiment! We wanted to find out which type of chocolate melts the quickest. We found out that white chocolate melts quicker than milk and dark chocolate. While doing this, we learnt how to measure the temperature of water using a thermometer.
We identified risks and explained how we can manage them in PSHE. In our second lesson, we understood that we can be influenced both positively and negatively and we considered our own experiences of when we have been influenced by something or someone.
Well done to Freya who is our star of the week this week. Freya has been very proactive with her learning recently and she has supported her peers when they have found their learning tricky. Well done Freya!
Have a good weekend.
Friday 21st January
We have been working really hard in maths this week. We continued to develop our understanding of perimeter by identifying missing lengths and then using these measurements to calculate the perimeter. We all applied our learning to some tricky problems as well. At the end of the week, we began our multiplication and division unit by learning how to multiply numbers by 10.
In literacy, we learnt what similes are and how they are used in poems. We then used our focus text and everything we have learnt so far about poems to plan our shared write. We planned to write a poem all about a thunderstorm.
We had two PSHE lessons this week. In this first lesson, we learnt what medicine is and identified why certain information is provided on a label. In our second lesson, we learnt some of the risks and effects of smoking and drinking alcohol.
In geography, we learnt what erosion is and how this process can change the shape of a river. We learnt what happens to sediment after erosion and understood how oxbow lakes and deltas are created.
In our computing lesson, we became editors. We learnt why the font size and style is important for different pieces of writing and we used this understanding to edit a newspaper article to make it look more like a newspaper report.
In our music lesson this week, we continued to practise learning our rap song called "Stop!" We then began to think of new ideas and lyrics that we could use to write our own rap about bullying.
Congratulations to Luie who is our star of the week this week. Luie has made really responsible decisions this week and it has been great to see his confidence grow in lessons. Well done Luie!
Have a good weekend.
Friday 14th January
In maths this week, we continued our learning on perimeter. We identified the perimeter of shapes on grids and then calculated the perimeter of rectangles with and without measurements. Towards the end of the week, we calculated the perimeter of rectilinear shapes, first with all the measurements and then without some of the measurements.
In literacy, we identified the key features of poems. We then practised some of these skills, for example, we learnt what alliteration and personification are and then used these types of figurative language in our writing.
In science, we learnt more about solids, liquids and gasses. We learnt that these states of matter can change and we learnt what these processes are called. We learnt what evaporation, condensation, melting and freezing are and then drew a diagram to show these different processes.
In PSHE, we discussed when pictures are safe to share online and when they are not. We also explained why some photos are not safe to share online. In our second PSHE lesson, we learnt what dares are and we learnt strategies to help us say no when we are dared to do something.
In music, we enjoyed learning our new song, which is a rap all about bullying. We shared what we liked and didn't like about the song and shared what we thought the lyrics meant.
In PE, we continued to develop our stamina in both cross country and our health related fitness lessons. We completed a circuit of activities to help us develop our stamina.
Finley is star of the week this week. Finley has a phenomenal attitude to learning and his geography work since the start of term has been excellent!
Have a good weekend.
Friday 7th January
Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a lovely and restful Christmas.
The children have come back to school with fantastic attitudes. They have been working really hard over the last 3 days.
In literacy this week, we began our poetry unit. We started by completing our cold write task and then we discussed what a poem is and why people write them. We also read our focus text and identified what it is about.
In maths, we recapped how to convert between different units of measure and then completed calculations using this knowledge. We also began to understand what perimeter is by measuring lines and calculating the perimeter of shapes on grids.
In geography, we identified where different countries are located in the world and learnt the names of some of the most well-known rivers in these countries. We also identified different parts of a river, including the source and mouth.
In science, we learnt what solids, liquids and gases are and identified the differences between them. We then used this knowledge to observe different objects to determine whether they are solids, liquids or gases.
Well done to Kyle who is Kingfisher's star of the week this week. Kyle has come back to school with an excellent attitude and he is already working hard to earn his handwriting pen. Well done Kyle.
Have a good weekend everyone!
Friday 17th December
In literacy this week, we completed our hot write where we wrote a persuasive letter. We wrote about Goldilocks as if we were the three bears. We then edited our letters and wrote the final version.
In maths, we learnt how many metres are in 1 kilometre and then we converted between the two. We then used our knowledge of different measurements to add and subtract different lengths.
In RE, we wrote a newspaper report as if we were sharing the news that Jesus had just been born and that he is the Messiah.
We completed two music lessons this week. We developed our skills when playing the glockenspiels and xylophones. We also developed our understanding of rhythms by listening to different tunes and matching them to what their names are. We also completed a quiz which encouraged us to consider which countries different rhythms were from.
In DT, we completed our night lights. We used our designs to make the case. We then created the circuit; we used our learning from science to help with this. Once they were completed, we evaluated them. Our night lights looked fantastic!
Have a wonderful and restful Christmas everyone!
Friday 10th December
We have been very busy this week as we get closer to Christmas!
In maths this week, we started our unit on measure. We learnt how many cm are in 1m and we also learnt how many mm are in 1cm. We converted between different units of measure and then solved problems using our knowledge.
In literacy, we planned our shared write. We then wrote our persuasive letter as if we were the 3 little pigs complaining about the big bad wolf. At the end of the week, we planned our hot write which we will write next week.
In history, we learnt what sources are and we considered all the different sources we have used when learning about the Ancient Egyptians. We also completed our end of unit assessment. We did really well summarising our learning on the Egyptian civilisation.
In RE, we learnt what a Messiah is. We then looked at evidence to decide whether Jesus was the Messiah. In our other RE lesson, we considered questions we would ask Mary if possible about Jesus.
Have a good weekend.
Friday 3rd December
It has been assessment week this week and we have worked hard in all of our tests!
In maths this week, we used our understanding of rounding to estimate the answers to calculations. We also learnt what the word inverse means and we wrote calculations in different ways using the inverse calculation.
In literacy, we identified the key features of a persuasive letter. We then practised how to use emotive language and exaggeration to be persuasive.
In science, we learnt how to create switches and we tested these in our circuit. We also had a visit from Atomic Tom who taught us even more about electricity, specifically static electricity.
In history, we learnt who Cleopatra was and what happened in her life. We learnt how the Egyptian civilisation came to an end and why.
In our computing lesson this week, we used our learning on spreadsheets and all the skills we learnt in the term to create a place value game.
Well done to Arthur who is star of the week this week. Arthur constantly works hard in lessons and this could be seen in his assessment scores this week. Well done Arthur!
Have a good weekend!
Friday 26th November
In literacy this week, we worked really hard writing our biography hot writes. We made some good edits and then we wrote the final version. We then began our new unit of work on persuasive letters. We read our focus text and discussed what the purpose of a persuasive letter is.
In maths this week, we spent a lot of time learning other subtraction strategies that we can use as well as the column method. We focused on finding the difference and learnt how to use the compensation method. We applied our learning to problems and at the end of the week, we estimated the answers to calculations by rounding.
We had a great discussion in PSHE on stereotypes this week. We learnt what they are and then considered a variety of different stereotypes. As an extension, we considered why stereotypes are negative.
In history, we learnt why the river Nile was so important to Egyptians. We understood how it was used and why and we also discussed why floods were important to the Egyptians.
In computing, we used a spreadsheet to create a shopping list for a party. However, we had to be careful how much we spent as we had a budget! In our online safety lesson, we discussed how and when online relationships may be healthy and unhealthy.
Well done to Jake who is star of the week this week. Jake is always helpful around the classroom and always shows great listening skills. His also wrote an excellent hot write. Well done Jake!
Have a good weekend!
Friday 19th November
In maths this week, we continued to develop our understanding of subtraction by using the column method to subtract 3-digit numbers and 4-digit numbers. We then applied our learning to reasoning problems and word problems.
In literacy, we used our plans to complete our shared write on Albert Einstein. We then researched another scientist, Thomas Edison, in preparation for our hot write. At the end of the week, we planned our hot write and began to write it.
In history, we learnt what Egyptian medicine was like. We learnt that the Egyptians had many cures and remedies for illnesses that we have today, for example, headaches and stomach aches. We also learnt what the Ebers Papyrus is and understood that it is a record of all the remedies and cures the Egyptians used.
In RE, we considered what Pentecost means to Christians and we created an invitation to welcome and encourage people to celebrate the day the Holy Spirit arrived.
As part of anti-bullying week, we discussed the role of the spectator and what they should do if they witness bullying. We then created posters to encourage others to help stop bullying.
Well done to Rosie who is star of the week. Rosie has shown what an excellent attitude she has to learning and she has been working hard to make sure her letters are joined.
Have a good weekend.
Friday 12th November
In maths this week, we continued our addition and subtraction unit by using the column method to add 4-digit numbers. We then used counters to subtract 3-digit numbers and at the end of the week, we moved on to using the column method for subtraction.
In literacy, we practised some of the skills needed to write a biography; we practised writing in the past tense, we identified and used time conjunctions and we also practised using fronted adverbials. We also researched Albert Einstein to help write our shared write for next week.
In history, we learnt what hieroglyphics are and what they represented. We also learnt that we are now able to read hieroglyphics because of the Rosetta Stone. We talked about what it is and how it was useful in reading hieroglyphics.
In RE, we continued to learn about Pentecost and the Kingdom of God. We drew our own image of Pentecost and considered what we think the symbols mean.
In PSHE, we discussed what the difference is between a friend and an acquaintance and in our second lesson, we considered what aggressive behaviours are and identified the consequences of this type of behaviour.
Well done to Emma who is our star of the week this week. Emma has become a lot more confident in maths recently and she is challenging herself more. Well done Emma!
Have a good weekend everyone.
Friday 5th November
In literacy this week, we began our biography unit. We learnt what a biography is and what the purpose of them are. As well as this, we identified the structure of biographies, noticing they are written in chronological order, and we also identified the key features of this type of text.
We have spent most of the week practising addition this week. We began by using counters to add numbers and then we began to use the column method to add 2 3-digit numbers. We also spent time applying our learning to problems.
In history, we learnt who Tutankhamun was and why he is a famous pharaoh. We learnt how he was found and we discussed the possible reasons why no one knew where he was buried.
We completed two PSHE lessons this week. In our first lesson, we discussed what compromising is and read different scenarios and shared how the people involved could compromise. We also learnt what personal space is and why it is important.
In music, we used glockenspiels and xylophones to play different rhythms with music.
Well done to Teddy who is our star of the week. Teddy constantly works hard and he is always ready to learn. Well done Teddy!
Have a good weekend!
Friday 22nd October
We had a very busy week in Kingfishers!
In maths this week, we continued to develop our understanding of negative numbers and then we learnt how to read and write Roman Numerals.
In Literacy, we finished our plans for our story at the beginning of the week and then we spent two lessons writing it. We then spent time editing our hot write and at the end of the week, we wrote our final version. We worked really hard on our stories.
In music, we continued to develop our improvisation skills and then we learnt what different notes are called and how many beats they're worth. We then used this to write our own compositions and we played them with the Mamma Mia song.
In our online safety lessons, we considered how much time we spend looking at screens and discussed whether it is healthy to spend lots of time doing this. We considered ways to help us spend less time on devices. We also discussed what a digital footprint is.
Well done to Theo who is star of the week this week. Theo has shown great enthusiasm in lessons and he showed this week that he is an excellent team player.
Have a wonderful half term everyone!
Friday 15th October
We have done lots of writing in literacy this week. At the start of the week, we planned our shared write where we discussed the story features we wanted to include in our writing. Over the next two lessons, we innovated our focus text using our plans to help us. At the end of the week, we started to plan our story for our hot write which we will be writing next week.
In maths, we learnt how to count in 25s. We also learnt how to count forwards and backwards within negative numbers and challenged ourselves by crossing 0 as well.
In PSHE, we discussed what it feels like when we feel pressured to do something. We looked at different situations and discussed who might put pressure on someone in those situations.
We really enjoyed our history lesson this week. We searched for facts around the classroom which taught us all about the Egyptian pyramids. We learnt some really interesting facts and used these to ask further questions.
In music, we learnt what improvisation means and we used tuned instruments to create improvisations while listening to our focus song Mamma Mia.
Well done to Logan who is our star of the week this week. Logan always has an amazing attitude towards his learning and he is a role model for positive behaviour. Well done Logan!
Have a good weekend!
Friday 8th October
In maths this week, we used our place value understanding to order 4-digit numbers. We also learnt how to round numbers to the nearest 1000 and recapped how to round to the nearest 10 and 100.
In literacy, we learnt the meanings of some of the vocabulary from our focus text and identified the features of a story. We then practised some of these skills for the rest of the week. We learnt how to punctuate direct speech, how to use subordinate clauses and how to write cohesively.
In history, we really enjoyed learning about mummification. We had to consider what the steps were and in what order, as well as considering why the Ancient Egyptians used mummification when people died.
We researched the Leprosy Mission this week in RE and identified what the Christian group behind the mission are trying to achieve. We then linked this to Jesus and what his teachings were.
On Thursday, we walked down to the church with the rest of the school to celebrate Harvest. We really enjoyed the service and it was great to see so many children donate to the food bank. Well done to all the children who practised and read for Kingfishers during the service.
Have a good weekend.
Friday 1st October
We have been working really hard in maths this week. We have spent a lot of time finding 1, 10, 100 and 1000 more or less of numbers and we have been working hard at developing our explanations to reasoning questions. At the end of the week, we used the more than and less than signs to compare numbers.
In literacy, we planned and wrote our hot write. We described the Egyptian pyramids for this piece of writing. We created excellent setting descriptions using what we have learnt over the last few weeks. At the end of the week, we began our new unit of work on stories. We identified the structure of a story using a story mountain.
In history, we learnt about the Ancient Egyptian beliefs. We learnt that they worshipped many Gods and Goddesses. We also learnt why religion was so important to the Egyptians.
In RE, we discussed our foundations and then compared these to Christian foundations. We then discussed how Christians show these foundations, for example, give to food banks.
Well done to Lydia who is our star of the week. Lydia is always ready to learn and she wrote an amazing setting description for her hot write. Well done Lydia!
Have a good weekend.
Friday 24th September
In literacy this week, we continued to practise using some of the features for a setting description. We practised using similes and alliteration. We then included these skills in our shared write, where we described a different setting.
In maths, we showed our understanding of the thousands column and then partitioned 4-digit numbers. We then placed 4-digit numbers on number lines and estimated where some should go on blank number lines.
In PSHE, we considered situations where we have said no to a friend and gave examples of these. We also discussed the consequences of this.
In history, we learnt what society was like for the Ancient Egyptians. We identified their hierarchy and then created questions about the different groups of people, for example, the Pharaoh, scribes and slaves.
Well done to everyone who shared their views on why they should be part of school council. It was very clear that you all spent a lot of time and effort thinking about your speech. Congratulations to Logan and Ella who were voted as this year's school council members.
Well done to Eleanor who is our star of the week this week. She has a fantastic attitude towards her learning and is working exceptionally hard to earn her handwriting pen as she has been practising in her lunchtime.
Have a good weekend.
Friday 17th September
In maths this week, we have worked hard on placing numbers on a number line. We challenged ourselves by estimating where numbers should be placed and we considered what the numbers might be at the start and end of number lines. We also recapped how to round numbers to the nearest 10 and 100 and applied our learning to problems.
In literacy, we developed our understanding of vocabulary. We also identified the key features of a setting description and at the end of the week, we recapped what expanded noun phrases are and included them in our own sentences.
In history, we learnt what civilisations are and we learnt when the Egyptian civilisation began and when it ended. We then compared these dates with other civilisations.
We completed two PSHE lessons this week. In our first lesson, we discussed good and not so good feelings and in our second lesson, we considered what makes a positive, healthy relationship.
In PE, we practised how to throw a netball and we also marked other players to try and stop them catching the ball. We put sequences of movements together in gymnastics using spins to go from one position to another.
Ella is our star of the week this week. Ella has settled really well into our class and she follows the school rules really well. Well done Ella!
Have a good weekend!
Welcome to Year 4!
Friday 10th September 2021
It has been great to welcome everyone into Kingfishers this week to start the new school year. We have had an excellent week and have already started to get used to the school rules and routines again.
In maths, we recapped our learning on numbers up to 1000 by showing our understanding of them and partitioning them. We also practised some mental arithmetic strategies to help us add and subtract numbers which are multiples of 10 and 100.
Our first literacy unit is setting descriptions. This week, we read our focus text and were able to identify the key parts which helped us visualise the setting. We also explained what a setting description is and what the purpose of them are.
Well done to Tom who is our first star of the week. Tom has come back to school with an amazing attitude and he has tried his very best in every lesson. Well done Tom!
Here are a few helpful notes for the week:
Your child has been given a new reading record. Please read with your child at least 5 times and record it in their books. Reading records will be collected in every Thursday.
Our library session is every Monday where your child will have the opportunity to take out and change their library books.
Our PE lessons are usually on Thursday and Friday each week.
Have a good weekend!
